Is Finance a Small World?

I’ve been on WSO for about a year now. I’m a Freshman in College at a non/semi target and I have felt pretty optimistic seeing all the successful people on here. However, I also wonder if my hopes are to high seeing the acceptance rates for some firms are very low, plus seeing that there are hundreds/thousands of applicants on linkedin for banking jobs. Ive seen kids say they have been rejected everywhere being from an Ivy with a 3.8 (Maybe they’re trolling). Is Finance a Small World? I’m not trying to feel bad for myself or give a sob story. I wish everyone the absolute best.

3 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Depends on the area of "finance" - have worked in various before

- cards & payments is a fairly large industry; you have schemes, card issuers, external marketing, co-brands, councils, consortium(s), phone networks, etc. pretty massive

- PE/VC is fairly small, depending on what you invest in you will see similar co-investors and funds pop in and out

- retail banking is also large in each market (they are poised to shrink through digital banking)

- corporate finance gigs don't really have a strong "banking/finance identity", you are just part of the larger group. like accountants.

 

Aut alias autem eum quae voluptatum. Quia nesciunt est et. Maiores est ut possimus aliquam consequuntur minus. Laboriosam itaque omnis voluptatem nemo ea. Ipsam ipsum vel illo velit. Et ea repudiandae itaque nihil.

Nisi corporis qui dicta qui. Deleniti quia voluptatem est accusamus qui. Et aperiam velit quasi est est esse adipisci. Omnis eum facere ut aut consectetur. Nobis qui repellendus dicta ipsa sit. Earum velit praesentium amet quisquam nihil dolor at.

Et et delectus ex sint qui vero. Saepe sint eveniet officiis non quia repellat nam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”